Archive for the “Wing Chun Forms” Category

Some things to ponder while you train your Chum Kiu form from Wing Chun:

Chum Kiu the second form in the Wing Chun system is both simple and complex in theory and in physical application. Chum Kiu moves the Wing Chun practitioner from remaining stationary (Sil Lim Tao), and introduces them to both movement and engaging two new ‘engines’ or ‘power sources’.

While each of the hand positions(bong sau, etc) are found in the Sil Lim tao form individually, it is in Chum Kiu that we learn to put two hand positions together. To give you the analogy that Sil Lim tao is the ‘letters’ in the Wing Chun alphabet, Chum kiu is the formation of letters into words. For example in Sil Lim Tao we are introduced to the hand positions (or letters) of Bong Sau, and of Wu Sau. When found in Chum Kiu, they are put together to form a familiar but different ‘word’. Much like taking the letter ‘a’ and the letter ‘n’ and making the word, ‘an’.

While Students are told to unify their lower and upper bodies together to make a singular unit, it is in Chum Kiu that this is tested and power is put into the system. For many practitioners, this is a ‘re-learning’ experience, or more possibly a ‘refining’ experience. It is during the learning of the Chum Kiu form that Wing Chun practitioners learn to apply the Keun Kuit (Fist saying), “Power comes from ground.” For if the Wing Chun practitioner does not learn to apply this concept, the power they do generate will be limited to muscular tension through the upper body, relying on an inefficient method of power generation. For when Wing Chun practitioners move, their bodies should move with them. Neither the hands or legs should lead the body, but together in harmony following the ‘intent’ or ‘mind’ of the Wing Chun practitioner, following two other Wing Chun keun kuit, “Fist come from Heart” and “Hand and feet go together.”

It is during the training of Chum Kiu, that Wing Chun practitioners also learn to ‘cross the bridge’, this I feel is a better meaning of the form than ‘searching the bridge’. We find that in Chum Kiu, the practitioner never overextends, but moves his (or her) body forward toward the intended target. This movement phase in the Wing Chun training system, is focused and intentioned. It is my thought that the founders of Wing Chun knew that adding movement to early into the system would prevent the Wing Chun practitioner from learning the concepts of Centerline, facing & unification which are found and isolated in Sil Lim tao.

We also find kicking for the first time in the Wing Chun system. Interestingly enough,  of the three empty hands forms (Sil Lim Tao, Chum Kiu and Biu Jee), kicks are only found in the Chum Kiu form. This brings me to ponder what the founding members of Wing Chun knew about kicking. Some studies have shown that it takes a significant amount of hours to become an effective kicker. Maybe this is why in Chum kiu only two kicks are introduced. Both of which can be quickly learned and executed by beginner Wing Chun practitioners. But when allowed to practice for a longer duration, the student gains added power, flexibility and increased balance. Depending on your sources for Wing Chun Keun Kuit, you may find one or both of the following maxims, “9 times out of 10, a kick misses.” and/or “9 times out of 10, a Wing Chun kick does not miss.”

Until Next Time. Keep Training, Keep learning…..

Hey All,

While I was teaching and also doing my own training I noticed several students practicing their forms (Sil Lim Tao, Chum Kiu, Biu Jee). But what amazed me the most, was that they were doing the forms in a passe way. Just going through the motions, and not minding what they were doing or how they were doing it.

I understand that there are times when we just aren’t into training our forms, but that should be the exception, not the rule. Most of us don’t put our mind and spirit into our forms. But if you want to excell in your chosen martial art, and what to get the biggest bang for your training time here are a few tips to help you through it.

1. Become One: Connect your Mind with every motion of your body. Think and feel every motion, your body should have a unity that can generate ‘effortless power’, but look graceful.
2. 10 to 1 Rule: For everytime you do your form at ‘Normal’ or ’Fast’ speed, do it 10 times slow. Now I know some of you are thinking, ‘But traditionally my form isn’t done that way!’, well, that may be true, but if you really want to get the mechanics down, and KNOW where your body is during every motion, do it slow. By slowing down the form, it is like doing it 10,000 times.
3. Feel the Power: Focus on where your body should be generating power during any given movement. There are several ways to do this, but one of the ways it to put a ‘Mind of Pressure’ in each move. Meaning pretend there is some pressure that is giving you some resistance trying to prevent you from doing the action.
4. Body Bump: Get a partner to push or ‘bump’ you after every move. This will help you know if you are balanced and rooted properly. Now Don’t have your partner give you so much force that you can’t stay rooted.

Well I hope it helps. And remember:

Keep Training, Keep Praying, Keep Learning!

Hey All,

I’ve had some interesting conversations with a few people about the Sil Lim tao form. For some reason the conversation got directed to what the application of particular parts of the form was for.

The basic conversation went like this:

Person 1: ‘I think this part of the form (insert movement) is for (insert application)’.

Person 2: ‘Sifu (Insert popular Wing Chun instructor) said this part of the form is for (insert different application).’

Person 3: ‘I don’t think so, I think Sifu (Insert different popular Wing Chun instructor) has it right, and that this part of the form is for (insert different application from Person 1 or 2).’

So you can get the idea. It now becomes a debate of what a particular movement is used for. Now don’t get me wrong, it is good to look at the possible applications of movements in a form, but it’s not good to ONLY focus on the applications. I have found that it is more important to look at the principles and mechanics within the movement, so that you can derive variations of an application, and not be limited to one way of thought.

I find it interesting in seeing the different interpretations of the form movements by different practitioners of Wing Chun (Ving Tsun, Wheng Cheung, etc). These interpretations are not necessarily right or wrong, just different. But if you look at the principles behind the motion, you will be able to see if it is Wing Chun, or something other than Wing Chun.

But what really concerns me most is the ,’So and so said this…..’. This blind belief that this is the only way to apply a movement is not only wrong, but shortsighted. Any movement should be viewed and tested, much like Bruce Lee said, ‘not to follow blindly’ or the Apostle Paul in the Bible, ‘Test everything’. With that being said, I appreciate a person’s view point and respect it, along with the person who made it. This is more important than proving who is right and who is wrong. Because sometimes it is better to be kind, than right.

Wing Chun is a lifelong study in body mechanics, application of force, sensitivity, etc. That as one progresses in the art, one’s viewpoint and understand will also change, develop and grow. So that what their understanding of the art today will be different 20 years from now. Man I love this art.

So keep an open mind, an open heart, and always use kindness, respect and understanding with others, not just in Wing Chun but in all martial arts and in life!

Keep Training, Keep Praying, Keep Learning,
Chuck

Canadian WingChun Fellowship

Greetings all,

I hope all is well. I was asked the other day why does a Wing Chun Keun Kuit say, ‘Tan, Bong, Fook – the three terrors of Wing Chun’? Well, as always I can approach this question in a number of ways. But for this discussion I am going to leave it strictly in the technical.

I believe that at Tan sao, bong sao, and fook sao are called the ‘three terrors’, is because of two things. First, to the student of Wing Chun, they can become a ‘terror’ of learning, in that understanding the proper structure and use can be daunting at first. Just ask any beginning student what they think of bong sao. But secondly and more importantly, they can be the ‘three terrors’ because they are basically the same structure with three different applications. Meaning that there is a direct relationship between Tan, Bong and fook sao. And that these three movements can cover for many of the variables that a Wing Chun practitioner will see.

The Direct Relationship:
If you start from Tan sao, and ‘flip your thumb’ downwards in a clockwise direction, and allow the elbow to raise you will have bong sao. Notice that from tan sao you should have an approximate angle of 135Degrees, and in Bong sao you will have that same 135Degree angle. Now just let your elbow sink down, and you will be in Fook sao, notice that you haven’t compromised that 135Degree angle. From Fook sao, you flip your thumb up, and you’re back in Tan sao.

The Variables:
If you look at the three hands (tan, bong and fook), they cover attacks from the outside (using tan), over top (bong), and inside or down (fook). By covering the four major angles of attack, it can been seen that these tools can become a ‘terror’ to anyone attacking a skilled practitioner.

Until Next time.
Keep Training, Keep Praying, Keep Learning,
Chuck

www.kwwingchun.com

All,

Chan Sifu has started to show me some basics of Baat Cham Doa (BCD) aka ‘Eight slashing knives’ form. It’s interesting that all the principles I’ve learned from the Wing Chun system are now really being tested at this level.

While the BCD keeps to the Wing Chun principles, it does change as you are now doing more with wrist power. Myself and a couple of Wing Chun Brothers have ordered a custom set of Baat Cham Doa from one of Sifu’s students who is currently in Thailand. SEE WCATS for purchasing BCD

These Doa are real blades, made by real swordsmith. These are not the ‘ornament’ or training Doa many clubs use. These are full handled blades, not the typical half handle. These are the type of blades you’d use if you really needed to.

As I’ve come to understand it, Thailand has never lost it’s heritage and skill in sword making. And that the swordsmith that is creating my Doa, is from an unbroken line of swordsmiths. I was told when my Sihing in Thailand tested the prototype, he asked for the blades to be dull. When he touched the blades it took a chunk of skin off of him – OUCH. I was told that the blades are perfectly balanced, and that the swordsmith was able to handle the blades with such precision.

I can’t wait for them to be finished. I’ve included a couple of photos of the prototype. They haven’t been polished yet, but they look good.